Music box



Jan. 11, 1949. A. PFEIFFER 2,458,875

MUSIC BOX Filed Jan. 12, 1948 I Nm IN V EN TOR.

Patented Jan. 11, 1949 AUNITI-:o 4STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to musical instruments and, more particularly, to what are characterized as music boxes.

An important object oi my invention is to provide a musical instrument of the aforementioned character, which comprises an enclosure, and a multiplicity of spring-like elements mounted therein, so as to have a free-vibrating end available for plucking with the fingers, or with a mechanical pick, or in any suitable manner in which such instruments are usually played.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in ya vmusic box enclosure, a multiplicity of sound producing reed-like `elements secured at one end; the other end remaining free to produce vibration and emission of sound as a result of vibration.

A further object of my invention is to provide a multiplicity of tone-producing vibrating elements, which have the vibrating end coiled about in spiral formation varying the number of turns so as to produce varied tonal effects.

A further object of my invention is to provide a music box of the aforementioned character, equipped with articulately secured picks at the bottom of the said music box, so that the various tonal effects may be produced by manipulation of the handle portions provided on the said nicks.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a music box of the aforementioned character, which has its bottom .soundboard positioned on suitable legs or spacers, so that the same may be placed on an auxiliary soundboard of larger measurement, in order to effectuate a greater intensity of tonal sound effect by virtue of the sympathetic vibration engendered between the bottom of the music box and the said auxiliary ysoundboard on which it may be supported or positioned.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a cover means in order to protect the exposed portions of the tone producing elements to prevent the same from accumulating dust and foreign matter from the atmosphere. l

A further object of my invention is to provide a cover means of the aforementioned character protecting the interior confines of the music box structure, and which may be variably positioned to cover partially the sound emission openings exposing the vibrating portions of the tonal elements, so that the said cover will also function as a mute in reducing or increasing, within minimum and maximum ranges, the sound intensity emitted therefrom.

Other objects and advantages, inherent in my invention, will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, and elucidated further in the ensuing description, wherein like numerals are used to designatelike Parts, and in which Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a device,

made and constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention, positioned on an auX- iliary soundboard, shown in phantom.

Fig. 2v is a sectional View in perspective showing the interior structural arrangement of the tonal vibrating elements, mounted in accordance with the practices of my invention.

Fig. 3 is .a sectional View taken substantially on the lines 33 of Fig. 2, and indicates various manners of mounting the tonal elements.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the lines 1 -4 of Fig. l.

Referring to the various views, my invention is generally designated 5, and consists of a boxlike enclosure, having Walls l and it?, a bottom 9, and a top element il secured removably to the said box within the slotted or recessed end portions 36 in the walls l0. The enclosure is provided with feet 8 on which it is supported.

The said top element Il is provided with three openings l2 under which are mounted individual tonal vibrating elements, with the vibrating portions exposed through the said openings l2. Three openings i3 of larger magnitude are provided, so as to expose three sets ci two tonal elements, each mounted thereunder and having their vibrating portions exposed for plucking with the fingers 33 when it is desired to play the instrument.v One larger opening M is provided covering three tonal elements.

Channels 34 are provided in which is slidably secured a cover and mute element designated 35, slidably attachable and removable by virtue of the said slides or channels In the first opening I 2, a tonal element i5 is exposed which comprises a, piece of springy or resilient metal, which when plucked will be caused to vibrate, in view of the fact that it .is moored at its other end to the bottom 9 of the musical in strument; thus its vibration is transmitted to the bottom S acting as a soundboard.

The elements I6 are similar to the element l5 with the exception that one of them has a curved portion at the top I8; the other one a more eX- tensive circular or curved portion The remaining elements have various spiral formations of greater or smaller magnitude, as indicated at '2Q and 2l This feature provides variance to thc tonal effects, or the pitch of the tonal elements. The tonal elements may also be made oi resilient wire material 23, having coiled portions 24 in a horizontal formation.

The elements i6 are preferably provided with a hump portion 22 which is accessible and readily engageable by the nail of the fingers 33. or which may be engaged by a mechanical pick or other instrumentality used for exerting flexing pressure thereon, to cause vibration and incidental pitch and tonal effects produced therefrom.

' The elements I6 may be mounted in different ways, as indicated in Fig. 3. One method is to form a foot 25 and have the same secured to the y soundboard 9 by virtue of escutcheon pins 26.

Another means of producing sound emission from the tonal elements is to use the mechanical picks Il provided and mounted at the bottom of the instrument; the said picks Il consisting of a metallic element, having a prong 3| which will releasably engage and pluck the elements I6, the said picks being pivoted at 30, and having a manipulating portion 32 extending through the base at the bottom so that the instrument may be inverted with its upper face downwardly, and these picks operated by means of the handles 32 with the fingers in various permutations and combinations producing tone, harmony, or melody.

rIhe elements I6 may also be made of dierent widths and/or different thicknesses in order to provide diierent pitch and tonal effects. may also be made in various lengths so as to vary the amplitude or vibration and the incidental tone or pitch effects,

To play the instrument by plucking with the lingers at the top, the cover 35 having rst been removed, the fingers reach, through the openings I2^, I3, and I4, the elements I6 and pluck at the humps 22, or at the top portion I5 thereof, in order to produce various tonal effects.

When the instrument 5 is placed on the auxiliary soundboard 6, the vibration is increased depending on the size of the soundboard 6, and thus a greater volume of sound is produced. The auxiliary soundboard 6 being larger intensifies the sound effects produced by the sympathetic vibration of the soundboard 9 at the bottom of the instrument acting in consonance with the auxiliary soundboard 6.

It may be desired to play the instrument not directly with the fingers, but through the picks I1. In that event, the cover 35 may be utilized as a mute by having its forward edge cover partially the openings I2, I3, and I4; thus varying the sound emitted from the music box and which, in turn, may be amplied by the auxiliary soundboard 6. The cover may also be manipulated in the slides 34 simultaneously with the plucking of the picks 3l, thus causing a continual variation in the volume or muting effects produced by the cover. Or, the cover may be placed in a preferred position in order to give the desired soft or loud sound intensity.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions, and minor details of construction, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly would fall within the purview and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described and disclosed my invention, what I .claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A music box of the character described comprising, a box structure open at the top, a top grill element removably secured to the said box structure and provided with a multiplicity of sound emission openings, a :plural number of reed-like elements ixedly mounted at their lower termini to the base of the said box structure, their upper termini extending upwardly to be accessible to vibration producing means, slotted means on the bottom of the said box structure, and pick means articulately conned in the said slotted means and provided with prong' means releasably engaging the free termini of the said reed-like elements.

2. A music box of the character described comprising, a box structure open atthe top, a top grill element removably secured to the said box structure and provided with a multiplicity of sound emission openings, a plural number of reed-like elements xedly mounted at their lower termini to the base of the said box structure, their upper termini extending upwardly to be accessible to vibration producing means, foot means secured to the said base of the said box structure to effectuate sympathetic vibration between the bottom ofthe said box structure and auxiliary soundboard means resulting in increased sound intensity, slotted means on the bottom of the said box structure, and pick means articulately coniined in the said slotted means and provided with prong means releasably engaging the free termini of the said reed-like elements.

3. A music box of the character described comprising, a box structure open at the top, a top grill element removably secured to the said box structure and provided with a multiplicity of sound emission openings, a plural number of reed-like elements xedly mounted at their lower termini to the base of the said box structure, their upper termini extending upwardly to be accessible to vibration producing means, channel means secured to the said top grill element, cover and mute element means slidably conned within the said channel means to eiectuate sound emissions of varied intensity, slotted means on the bottom of the said box structure, and Pick means articulately confined in the said slotted means and provided with prong means releasably engaging the free termini of the said reed-like elements.

4. A music box of the character described com'- prising a box structure open at the top, a top grill element removably secured to the said box structure and provided with a multiplicity of sound emission openings, a plural number of reed-like elements fixedly mounted at their lower termini to the base of the said box structure, their upper termini extending upwardly to be accessible to vibration producing means, foot means secured to the said base of the said box structure to eiectuate sympathetic vibration between the bottom of the said box structure and auxiliary sound-board means resulting in increased sound intensity, channel means secured to the said top grill element, cover and mute element means slidably conned within the said channel means to eectuate sound emissions of varied intensity, slotted means on the bottom of the said box structure, and pick means articulately conned in the said slotted means and provided with prong means releasably engaging the free termini of the said reed-like elements.

' ADOLPH PFEIFFER.

I REFERENCES CYTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

